Update: This DIY Link Costume for Breath of the Wild was created a few years ago. It remains one of my more popular Halloween costumes, and this game remains one of m kids’ favorite games. If you have a little one obsessed with this game and are looking to make them a costume, I just want to say hi, I am glad you are here, and WOW I wish my kids were still this teeny! Enjoy!
My kids are eight and five-years-old. They are officially into video games (even Claire, who’s only five, has some serious skills…she can beat me at Mario Kart HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE). I grew up in the 80’s, which means I got to see video games grow from Pong (my parents totally had Pong) to my personal favorites – Super Mario Bros. and, of course, The Legend of Zelda.
We didn’t have a Nintendo at home (until I was older, and got my own), but my grandparents had one…and so of course, along with homemade chocolate chip cookies and a smorgasboard of sugary cereals, we always got our fill of Nintendo every time we visited. It’s what grandparents live for, right?!
Today my kids are the Nintendo players/experts in the house. When they’re not playing Zelda on the Switch, they’re playing Zelda in our house. And in our car, and outside, and everywhere we go. It’s kind of taken over our world. I decided to roll with it and make a DIY Link costume for Claire – it was cheap and easy, it didn’t take long to make, and it’s SUPER cute (also, comfy – which is helpful when she’ll be wearing it a lot for play!). Link wears many outfits in Breath of the Wild – this particular shirt is called the Champions Tunic.
DIY Link Costume Guide:
This is a really easy Link costume that you don’t need to save for Halloween or a party. If your kids really like to dress up and get into character on the regular, this DIY costume is a must try!
Here’s what you need to make a DIY Link costume:
- Blue, short-sleeved shirt or tunic (I found the perfect aqua shade at Walmart, and it was only $3 – you can also find solid colored shirts and tunics at Primary.com)
- White, long-sleeved shirt
- White flannel (you’ll need two strips, about 2′ x 3″)
- Brown boots
- Brown flannel or felt (I bought a 1/4 yard at Walmart for just a couple bucks)
- Tan leggings (the ones in these pictures were also just a few dollars at Walmart!)
- Orange and green crayons (or fabric paint, but crayons worked fine for me)
- White puffy paint or fabric paint
- Brown belt, long enough to wrap twice around the waist
- Sword (we used one we already had around the house, because sword collecting kids)
If this is already stressing you out (been there, done that, still do it…), you can always just buy a costume on Amazon! This one is inexpensive and looks a lot like the one I created here.
Here’s how to make this DIY Link costume from Breath of the Wild:
Using a pencil, sketch in the designs on Link’s tunic. I used this picture as a guide. Trace with puffy paint (don’t forget, it needs to dry overnight – I did one side before bed and the other side in the morning). You could also do this with a bleach pen if you have kids who will pick at the paint or not like the raised feel of the paint on the shirt!
Cut your white flannel into strips. These will make the arm bands. Use the crayons to draw the print onto the fabric.
Cut two pieces of brown fabric out for boot cuffs. To do this, just measure around the top of the boot and decide how wide you want the fold. Then cut out your pieces and simply fold over the boots (I left the front open, like Link’s boots!).
That’s really it! Claire got dressed in her Link costume, we gave her a messy ponytail (authentic to Link *and* Claire), and I wrapped my belt around her waist twice. We used a sword we already had around the house, and ta-da!
Easiest DIY Link costume ever. 🙂
Questions about the Switch or the costume? Let me know in the comments below!
Or! And there is no shame in your game if you go this option – you can just buy a costume online. 🙂
I’d love to have you join me on Facebook for more easy DIY costumes, free printables, and fun content for kids.
And be sure to check out the DIY kid costumes below!
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Wow – that’s actually a pretty cool DIY outfit. Gotta talk the head of the family (wife) into making something like this for our daughter. I simply don’t have the skills myself.
Thanks! I found the whole thing in Walmart! Turn Shirt, pants, shirt for underneath the turn shirt and the fabric paint!! Score! Thanks so much
Yay!! You’re so welcome – hope the costume turns out great!
I’m working on it now with the fabric paint! 😃👍🏼
How did it turn out?
I found your tutorial after I made the Link costume for my 5 year old daughter, who is also Zelda obsessed. I did almost the exact same thing!!
Hello! Thanks for this DIY it’s really helpful! Now I just have to find a sword and TADA!!!!!!
Lukily we had a few swords around the house! lol. Glad you liked the DIY! 🙂
I am thinking about making this costume for my 8 year old . I was wondering how big of a shirt you got and what size does she normally wear. I am trying to order everything only but I am stumped on what size to order to make it look more like a tunic.
When I made this she was in a 5T. The shirt I used here was a boys’ shirt from Walmart in size 4/5 (the boy shirts are longer than the girl ones usually are!). You might also have some luck on Primary.com – they have tons of colors and styles in solid colors and they’re really affordable.